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Restored LTD Benefits Worth $400,000 after Unjust Refusal
An insurance manager from the Kansas City region found herself desperately in need of long-term disability (LTD) benefits due to severe health complications. She spent her career assisting corporate clients with various employee benefit plans, including LTD benefits, yet ended up requiring such a scheme herself. Exploring the challenges of Tarlov Cyst Disease disability, it’s essential to comprehend the relevance of the FCE test for disability, providing insights into the evaluation process crucial for individuals dealing with this medical condition to secure necessary support.
Unjust Termination: Sticky Arachnoiditis Decade-LTD Benefits
Starting in 2008, she began to feel persistent back pain, numbness, and spasms in her lower body. Over time, the pain escalated to the point of incapacitation, ultimately pushing her in 2010 to claim LTD benefits under her company’s plan with Lincoln Financial Group. After she had been receiving the benefits for almost ten years, an unfortunate event transpired that led to an unjust termination of her LTD benefits.
In 2011, she underwent a surgical procedure to extract a large Tarlov cyst that had intertwined itself with her spinal nerves. This cyst had been the cause of extreme discomfort and other health issues. Despite the surgery, her pain did not subside, and she had to continue her life with incessant pain management, including steroid injections and physical therapy.
She visited the Mayo Clinic in 2014, where she was diagnosed with Adhesive Arachnoiditis, a severe spinal condition that induces extreme pain and neurological disabilities.
The Role of Medical Imaging in Disability Assessments
In 2020, she underwent another MRI without contrast, which showed no signs of Arachnoiditis – a situation that Lincoln Financial Group interpreted as a sign of total recovery. They concluded that she could now take up work in any occupation, even sedentary ones, resulting in the termination of her LTD benefits. This decision overlooked her constant, excruciating pain and her reliance on potent pain medications.
Overcoming an Unjust Denial: The Appeal Process
Left without the resources she needed to live and pay her bills, the client sought the help of a law firm specializing in long-term disability. The lawyers dipped into the medical records and peer-reviewed journals and debunked the flawed MRI results, proving the misdiagnosis given by Lincoln Financial Group.
As a result of their tireless efforts, they successfully managed to revoke the unjust denial of our client’s disability. In turn, she received all her back benefits together with her monthly LTD benefits reinstated. The lifetime value of this reinstated award is estimated to exceed $400,000.
Pain Management and Coping Strategies
Living with a chronic condition like Adhesive Arachnoiditis requires more than medical surgeries and treatments. It’s also essential to manage the condition with a comprehensive approach, which includes physical therapies, a balanced diet, a regular exercise routine, and a robust support system.
Impact of Chronic Pain on Mental Health
- Living with chronic pain doesn’t just affect a person physically; the mental toll can be just as significant;
- Individuals experiencing long-term pain might also be dealing with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues;
- It’s crucial that such individuals receive appropriate psychological support to help them cope with the mental aspects of their condition.
Battles for long-term disability benefits are often protracted and stressful, especially when dealing with a crippling condition like Adhesive Arachnoiditis. Misinterpretation of medical assessments can lead to wrongful denials of much-needed benefits, leaving recipients in a troublesome situation. However, by seeking competent legal assistance, these unjust decisions can be contested effectively. In addition, to manage the physical and emotional pain of this condition, adopting comprehensive coping strategies and seeking mental health support is crucial.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ordeal faced by this insurance manager highlights the importance of tenacity and expertise in contesting wrongful denials of long term disability benefits. Despite the grueling journey she had to undertake, her story ended in success but serves as a stark reminder for all. To ensure that rightful claims are honored, it is crucial to have sound medical documentation and expert legal counsel. The ordeal underscores the significance of accurate medical diagnosis, the role of adequate insurance coverage in securing a decent life quality, and the potential consequences of misinterpretations of medical results by insurance firms.
